Hogwarts Legacy is playable early, just not for everyone

If you found yourself heartbroken as a child that you never received your Hogwarts acceptance letter, don’t worry. You weren’t alone. The good news is though, Harry Potter fans can soon finally live out their wizarding dreams as Hogwarts Legacy is mere weeks away from release - if you’re a PlayStation 5, Xbox Series X/S or PC owner, that is. The rest of you will need to wait a little bit longer.

As we draw closer to the game’s initial 10 February release date, the leaks are coming thick and fast. The game’s official art book has revealed that Quidditch will be featured after all, plus we now know that Hogwarts Legacy’s story will differ depending on which house you’re sorted into. Not everyone is quite so excited about the game. JK Rowling’s transphobic comments have alienated much of the fanbase, leading many to boycott and protest against Hogwarts Legacy. If you have chosen to play the game though, you may be able to dive in sooner than expected.

ICYMI, Simon Pegg has joined the cast as Phineas Nigellus Black. Meet the character below.

If you pre-order Hogwarts Legacy Deluxe Edition, you’ll gain access to the game on 7 February, three days earlier than players who purchase the standard edition. This offer is only available to PlayStation 5, Xbox Series X/S, and PC players simply due to the fact that the release dates for the remaining versions of Hogwarts Legacy are still quite some time away.

That’s not the only pre-order bonus. All pre-orders will come with access to the Onyx Hippogriff and Felix Felicis potion recipe, plus PlayStation users will be able to playthrough the exclusive ‘Haunted Hogsmeade Shop’ quest. The quest will become available for non-PlayStation users one year after release. If you order the digital deluxe version, you’ll also get a Dark Arts Garrison hat. Spooky and fashionable.

There’s more. Deluxe edition pre-orders will also include access to the Dark Arts Pack which features a Thestral mount, Dark Arts cosmetic set, and access to a Dark Arts battle arena. We don’t exactly know how the game’s battle arenas will function but I’d imagine you can duel with fellow wizards - or maybe even magical creatures. We’ll find out soon enough.